Has anyone had any experience with paint issues particularly with the front and rear bumpers. I have owned both a 98 Lexus Ls400 and Es300 and the bumpers on both are and were very susceptible to rock chip damage. I thought maybe the bumpers had been painted aftermarket but a friend of mine is a painter and said they both did not appear to be painted other than the factory.

 

I'm actually surprised you're having paint issued on the older Lexus. If you were talking about the newer ones I'd say yes. My 2004 RX330 had very soft paint that chipped very easily. My 98 LS and my old ES300; however, shows no major issues other than those inline with its age. My old SC400 was repainted so I can't compare.

 

I am having a very bad problem with the bumpers. I need a thick paint to repaint it with. I'm trying to find a shop that would monotone it but the shops around here are charging 2400 dollars to paint the damn thing.

 

My front bumper looks like a piece of crap; the car is from SC and looks like they drove it through a sand/bug/rock storm. I'm also getting high estimates to repaint it, but it annoys me because it stands out in pictures. Its a 99 LS400 btw. Also, the black hood is rock chipped and scratched a bit more than I would like; my 93 legend has a lot less paint problems it seems, but its more of a light gold which is 100x more forgiving than black.

 

Thicker paint will just make the problem worse. If they are repainting it, paint shops can use a kind of flex undercoat that is made specifically for "resisting" paint chips.

The other method is to buy those 3MM Protection Films that are car specific. I've heard those work very well.

Or, you could buy your woman a bra.

 

Is the protection film a spray or something that is placed on the bumper?

 

The film is just like getting your windows tinted, however it is clear. I have a friend in the GS forum(KevinGS) who just had it did to his GS recently and you would never know it is there unless you stand right on top of it and look for the seam where dust, etc may seem to gather. It actually looks like a big, long scratch on his hood when pollen settles, but wipe and vilola' ll gone. I think a few members here have this on their LS as well, RAO40, if I remember correctly.

 

If I were to do the film I would just do the front bumper. I dont have many problems with the hood, thankfully.

Where do we find the film?

 

Can you find out what it costs and where to get it. Thanks

 

Ours the front bumper was pretty pitted with sand/rock impressions. The white section wasn't bothered but the silver part was nasty and the lower you got, the worse it became. With that light a color, it wasn't obvious until up close. After the replacement bumper went on, I had clear bra applied. $225.

 

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...gard-PPF/Home/

There are other brands out there, but I believe 3M was the first to come out with this Paint Protection Film. It's clear, and should fit over existing body pieces (assuming yours hasn't gone completely to hell yet).

I know that dealers should have this as an option, and that most reputable paint shops have either heard of it, carries it, or can order it. If they haven't heard of it, walk out.

Ask to see previous work. If you botch up on this install, it's a mighty expensive mistake.

 

My guess is that those having issues do not have original paint.

Rear & front bumbers take mammoth abuse in urban environments.

My front & rear held up fine until a wreck caused a re-paint. Front bumber was peeling in 6 months due to the mix on the plastic parts of an LS.

Have never seen oem paint peel off a bumber. that did not have impact damage.

 

I had my friend who is a professional body guy look at it and he said there is no signs that it was painted. I am surprised because there are chips everywhere. I am going to get it painted and look into getting the film.

 

i used to work at a body shop, and it is possible to make a bumper appear to never have been sprayed (painted) other than factory. if you cant tell, it says alot about that shop, if you can tell....

is the color off from your bumper, to the quarter panel/fender? even from factory to color can be off. paint can change color on a plastic bumper to a metal fender even if its sprayed from the same gun, given time...

who knows, maybe it could have been a brand new bumper sprayed in the same sequence as factory, you may never know...

but if you are to paint it over, a flex agent will help out alot against rocks or anything that could chip your paint. you can put flex agent in your primer sealer, then your basecoat, and clearcoat. your could probably throw a rock right at it and it wouldnt chip, but thats over doing it.

 

Throwing rocks at cars reminded me of the movie Meet the Fockers, that was hilarious